314 THE SMUGGLER. 



are all of the same leaven; and I fancy you have no power to 

 do anything yourself except in aid and support of the civil 

 authorities. You must be very careful, too, not to exceed 

 your commission, where people might suspect that personal 

 feelings are concerned." 



" Personal feelings shall not bias me, Digby, even in the 

 slightest degree," replied his friend. " I will act towards Mr. 

 Radford exactly as I would towards any other man who had 

 committed this offence; and, as to the imputation of motives, 

 I can well afford to treat such things with contempt. Were 

 I, indeed, to act as I wish, I should not pursue this charge 

 against the chief offender, in order not to bring down his ven- 

 geance suddenly upon Sir Robert Croyland's head, or should 

 use the knowledge I possess merely to impose silence upon 

 him through fear. But my duty is plain and straightforward, 

 and it must be done. As to my powers, they are more ex- 

 tensive than you suppose. Indeed, I would have sooner 

 thrown up my commission, than have undertaken a service I 

 disliked, without sufficient authority to execute it properly. 

 Thus, if no magistrate could be found to act as I might require, 

 I would not scruple, with the aid of any officer of customs, or 

 even without, to apprehend this man on my own responsibility. 

 But I think we shall easily find one who will do his duty." 



" At all events," replied -Sir Edward Digby, " you had 

 better be cautious, my dear Layton. If you are not too quick 

 in your movements, you may perhaps trap the old bird and the 

 young one together; and that will be a better day's sport than 

 if you only got a single shot." 



" Heaven send it may be before these fatal four days are 

 over!'' answered Layton; "for then the matter will be decided 

 and Edith delivered." 



" Why, if you were to catch the young one, it would be 

 sufficient for that object," said his friend. 



But Layton shook his head. "I fear not," he replied; 

 " yet that purpose must not be neglected. Where he has 

 concealed himself I cannot divine. It would seem certain that 

 he never got out of Harbourne Wood, unless, indeed, it was 

 by some of the bye-paths; and in that case, he surely must 

 have been seen. I will have it searched, to-morrow, from end 

 to end." 



In the same strain the conversation proceeded for half an 



